Electrical connecting device



March 29, 1938. c. w. ABBOTT ELECTRICAL CONNECTING DEVICE Filed May l, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTO'R CHARLES lll/.A515072 m M T RNEY March 29, 1938. 7 C. w. -ABOTT' 2,112,753

LECRICAL CONNEGTING DEVI CE Filed May l, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR C44/Q55 W A550 rr ZZLM/ W ATT RNEY Patented Mar. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE 19 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical connecting devices and more particularly to devices for connecting together multiple insulated conductor structure such as ilexible cord conductors of the kind, for example, used in connecting electrical appliances to household power circuits.

One of the objects of this inventionis to provide a simple, practical and inexpensive connector construction. Another object is to provide a connecting device that is small, compact,

neat in'appearance, and non-breakable. Another object is to provide a connecting device for conductors of the above-mentioned type which will be capable of simplicity and ease of manipulation or operation, which will be tamper-proof, and which will give dependable and eflicient action and results.

Another object is to provide a connector device of the above-mentioned character that will be dependably safe, free from possibilities of giving rise to hazards of re or to dangers or injuryl to body and limb, and capable of dependably maintaining, in a simple and lasting manner, low resistance connection or connections between the electrical conductors to be connected together. Another object is to provide a connecting device of the above-mentioned character in which the metallic conductors are interconnected in a manner free from damaging, abradingbreaking, or otherwise injuring the metallic conductors themselves, and thus to avoid giving rise to high resistance junctions and their attendant defects and hazards. Another object is to provide conductor-engaging and clamping means capable of long-lasting if not permanent clamping action under the usual varied and sometimes abusive conditions of practical use. n Another object is to provide a conductor connector or anchorage with simple, inexpensive and durable means for maintaining the anchorage or connection intact. Another object is to provide a connecting device .of the above-mentioned character that will be capable of ready, convenient, and easy application in practical use. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown several of various possible embodiments of my invention,

Figure l is a perspective view showing one form of connecting device;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective of two casing-like or outer parts of the device;

Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a plan view and a front elevation of one of two sub-assemblies of the device of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 5--5 of Figure 3;

Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a plan view and a front elevation of one of several contact devices, shown detached from the sub-assembly of Figures 3, 4 and 5;

Figure 8 is a plan view of one of the two half parts of the connector device of Figure l showing a two-conductor cord structure related thereto;

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view as seen along the line 9-9 of Figure l;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a modified form of device;

Figure ll is a central vertical sectional view, as seen along the line II--ll of Figure' 10;

Figure l2 is a bottom plan view, as seen along the line |2|2 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a plan view, as seen along the line l3-I3 of Figure 1l, and

Figure 14 is an exploded perspectivev of two casing-like counterparts.v

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views in the draw- Referring first to Figure 1, let it be assumed that a flexible insulated conductor such as a lamp cord, for example, indicated at 20 and of any suitable or usual construction requires an extension as by the cord 2l which may be of a construction like the cord 20; the cords 20 and 2i, having therein by way of illustration conductors 22-23 and 24-25, respectively, are to be joined together and the electrical conductors electrically connected to extend the circuit. The conductors are usually of stranded copper wire. In Figure l the two insulated conductor structures 20 and 2| are shown connected together by way of an illustrative formof my connecting device.

'I'he connecting device is .preferably made up of two substantially similar halves indicated at A and B in Figure 9 and in outer contour the two halves are generally semi-cylindrical so that when joined together as they appear in Figures l and 9, the connecting device approximates a circular cross-section. or, if desired, it may approximate an oval cross-section like the crosssection of ilexible cord conductors as now in use.

Furthermore, the parts of the connecting devices are, because of certain features of my invention,- capable of embodiment' 'in such small form that the cross-section, like that of Figure 9, for example, is approximately only twice the crosssection of the exible cord conductor with which it is to be associated.

Preferably each half portion A, B (Figure 9) comprises two parts; thus portion A comprises an outer casing part or shell 26, preferably of sheet metal, and an inner part 21 later described, and half portion B comprises an outer shell 28 comparable to shell 26 and an inner part 29 which is preferably identical to the part 21. Of parts 21 and 29, therefore, it will suflice to describe in detail only one of them, for example, part 29.

Referring, then, to Figures 3, 4 and 5, in which part 29 is shown, the latter is-made of a suitable insulating material and preferably of a material having a certain amount of resiliency, such as vulcanized rubber, preferably compounded to have suitable flexibility and resiliency after vulcanization. lIt is accordingly preferably molded and vulcanized in the form shown in these gures.

Thus, it has a transverse cross-section that is generally semi-circular (see Figure 5), having, however, end portions 38, 3i (Figures 3 and 4) that are curved or tapered off toward the plane of the flat face 32 and having an intermediate external groove 33 preferably of substantial extent in the direction of the axis of the half cylinder which the part 29 approximates.

The part 29 is shaped or molded to provide, in the otherwise flat face 32, end channels 34 and 35 which, in cross-section, preferably approximate half the cross-section of the insulated conductor, such as cord 20 or .2l of Figure 1, and

which are joined together by two narrow channels 36 and 31 which are formed or separated from each other by a central barrier 38 that has a central enlargement 39, as is better shown in Figure 3; the enlargement 39, generally rectangular when viewed in plan, as in Figure 3, is positioned substantially centrally of the face 32 and through its midpoint and hence through the midpoint of the device 29 is a hole 40 preferably enlarged orl countersunk at its lower end (Figures 4 and 5). The part 29, of which the part 21 is preferably a duplication, thus to simplifyv manufacture, will thus be seen to be of a configuration lending itself to ease and inexpensiveness of manufacture. When made of rubber of the character above described, it has flexibility and resiliency.

In the two channels 36, 31 are positioned contactmembers 4| and 42, made preferably of a `suitable springy vsheet metal, such as phosphor bronze.- They are of preferably identical conformation, as are the two contact members 43 and 44 that are related to the part 21 (Figure 9)'.

In Figures 6 and 'I one vof these contact members, such as member 4l, is shown, It has a central or base portion 4l",l and upwardly bent wireengaging portions 4Ib, 4I, preferably and illustratively hook-shaped, as is better shown in Figure 6. 'I'he central base portion 4I*L is cut out as at 4|e and is thus given a shape to fit it snugly in one of the channels, such as channel 36 (Fig- 'ure 3) to one side of the central barrier member 38, the laterally projecting portion of the part 39 taking into the cut-out or recessed portion 4|e of the contact member, thereby to interlock the latter with the part 29 against movement of the contact member lengthwise of its channel, the

base portion 4in resting against the bottom of the channel 36. If desired, the contact member may be additionally secured to the member 29 by any suitable means but by appropriately proportioning the two parts, the resiliency ofthe part 29 may be made sufficient to grip the contact member along its edges to hold it in place. Also, I may, if desired, interpose, before inserting the contact member in its channel, a suitable cement, preferably a cement of the type employedto bond rubber and metals, between the base portion 4I andthe bottom of the channel 36 to secure the contact member in place.

As shown in Figure 4, the conductor-engaging and illustratively hook-shaped parts 4Ib and 41 project upwardly out of the channel and preferably beyond the plane of the face 32, and the part 29 and also its companion part 21 are each thus provided with two pairs of resilient upwardly projecting conductor-engaging parts, the two pairs in each part being separated electrically and mechanically by the central barrier 38.

The intermediate or central external grooves 33 of the two parts 21 and 29 are of a length slightly in excess of the length of the alined contact members 4 I, 42, etc., and are of a depth preferably somewhat in excess of the thickness of the shells 26 and 28 (Figure 9), respectively received in the grooves of the parts 21 and 29. As

above noted, members 26 and 28 are of a suitable rigid material, preferably sheet metal, and their respective shapes and congurations are better shown in Figures 9 and 2 from which it will be seen that they are internally curved or shaped to correspond with the external curvature or shape of the grooves 33 in the two parts 21 and 29, and

as appears from Figure l, they are of the same length in an axial direction as the length of these grooves.

Casing part or shell 26 is provided with a cengether, hole 45 is in registry with the hole 48 of the member 21.

In a similar manner, the casing part 28 is provided with a central hole 46 that registers with the outer end of hole 40 in the member 29 when the two parts are intertted and likewise preferably secured together as by a cement; hole 46 is threaded as shown in Figure 2 and for that purpose the peripheral metal is preferably pressed or drawn into a short tube-like form.

-In Figure 8 is shown one of the half'portions, such as the portion B above-mentioned, but in plan view, and showing how the wires or conductors of the cord conductor, such as conductor 20 of Figure 1, with the end of the latter, are related thereto. Thus, cord conductor 20 has the insulation removed from appropriate end lengths of the wires or conductors, usually stranded, 22 and 23. The cord conductor 20', which may have its insulation parted or separated as indicated at 2li*t in Figure 8, if desired, is then laid into the open-ended chanel 35 and its two bare conductors 22 and 23 are made to overlie the channels 36 and 31, respectively, and interengaged, respectively, with the contact members 4I, 42, preferably by causing each bare conductor to engage each of the hook-shaped parts 4Ib and 4I of its.

respective contact member but in the manner 4| b and |||C are upwardly bent or somewhat upstanding, as in Figure 4 two end portions of the bared Wire are made to underlie these upstanding conductor-engaging parts and an intermedi ate portion oi the bare conductor is made to overlie the base portion 4|a.

In a similar manner the bared wires of the other conductor, such as the member 2| of Figure 1, are related to the contact parts 43 and 44 of the half portion A of the connecting device, but by way of the end channel 34 in the part 21. The two half portions may-now be assembled by placing the faces 32 thereof toward and against each other, whence a clamping screw 41 (Figures 9 and 1) is passed through the alined holes 40 and 45 in the half portion A, through the hole 4Q in the part 29 of the portion B and threaded into the threaded hole 46 of the casing part 28, as shown in Figure 9.

In placing the two half portions with the respective conductors 20 and 2| related thereto together, contact members 4| and 42 of one half portion B (Figure 9) become juxtaposed respectively to contact portions 43 and 44 of the other half portion A, and as the two halves are drawn toward each other, the upstanding end conductor-engaging portions (Figures 4 and 7) of the contact members yield, and the contact members approach virtually a straightened-out or attened condition. But bare conductors 22 and 24 (Figure 9) have portions of each interposed between the contact members 4| and 43 and in like manner bare conductors 23 and 25 have portions thereof that are interposed between the contact members 42 and 44. As the screw 41 is tightened up, these bare portions are tightly gripped and clamped as indicated in Figure 9, insuring a dependable and secure mechanical and electrical interconnection therebetween and thus dependably continuing the circuit from one insulated conductor, such as conductor 23 of Figure 1, to the other, such as conductor 2|.

In this clamping action, and particularly where one or both of the parts 21 and 29 are made of resilient or yieldable material like rubber, the yieldable material becomes somewhat compressed, it being noted that, as is well shown in Figure 9, the shells or casing parts 26 and 28, are dimensioned so that the juxtaposed longitudinal edges thereof fallshort of coming into contact with each other and thus give adequate range of movement of the casing parts 2'6 and 28 toward each other under the action of the screw 41 to insure not only the application of adequate clamping pressure upon thelbare conductors but also a sumcient range of compression of the yleldable and elastic rubber; the latter continues to tend to expand or to return to normal conguration, and thus maintains the clamping pressure upon the clamped conductors and also maintains a continued and follow-up straining of the clamping screw 41 and its associated parts, particularly parts 26 and 28, so that unthreading or loosening up of the screw 41 is dependably guarded against.

Preferably, also, the slots of the contact members and into which slots the conductors are se*J as above described are so related that when the two half portions of the device are brought together, asabove described, the two wire or canductor ends that are to be electrically interconnected become superimposed one upon the other; thus, in Figure 9, conductor 24 may overlie conductor 22 and conductor 25 may overlie conductor 23. This is preferable where the conductors are stranded in that thereby the clamping pressure ilattens out the stranded conductors and virtually intermeshes the various strands thereof, thus bringing about a direct and large-area surface contact, contributing towa i low resistance interconnection.

Preferably, also, the above-described clamping action is supplemented by a snubbing action on the part of each of the upwardly projecting yieldable portions of the various contact members, such as 4|b or 4|c (Figures 4, 6 and 7). It will be noted that, as thebare conductor is related to the slots of the upstanding portions, such as the slots Mg and 4|h (Figure 6) ,the slots present openings into which the conductor may be inserted that are of a width commensurate with the thickness of the conductor; however, as the two half parts are brought together as by the action of the screw 41 and related parts, thus straightening or flattening out the various contact members, the projecting portion of the contact member is made, as it is gradually bent toward straightened condition, to gradually diminish the eiective width of the slot in the direction of the length of the conductor, thereby snubbing the latter and achieving a dependable mechanical anchorage. Also, and preferably, I employ two such yieldable upstanding conductor-engaging portions for each contact member (see Figures 4 and 7) and the action of the two, as they are bent toward straightened condition, may also be accompanied by a straightening out or tensioning of the part of the conductor that ,intervenes the two slots, thus contributing toward uniformity of distribution of holding action on the part of the snubbing devices and the intermediate clamping parts, so that these several snubbing and clamping actions are dependably maintained effective to contribute toward the ultimate anchorage of the conductor or conductors.

Preferably, also, the depth of these slots is so proportioned to the enlargement 39 of the barrier 38 (Figure 3) that tensioning of the intermediate portion of the bare conductor when under strain.

tends to` cause the conductor to bottom in the slot. Also, and preferably, the inclination of the slot `in at least one-of the upstanding conductor-en gaging parts, for example, the right-hand part of the contact members 4| and 42 of Figure 8, is in a direction to cause any initial or possible slippage of the conductor to effect bottoming o! the latter in the slot and thus to aid in further anchoring the conductor.

The assembly of the two half portions Will be seen to be a simple operation. As above noted, one half portion, like the part B of Figure 8, has related to it the cord conductor 20 which restsin the channel 35 thereof at one end, that portion of the cord conductor being taken into the corresponding open channel 25 of the other half p0rtion A, the cord conductor thus acting, due to its preferred intertting with these two open channels, to aline the two half portions and hold them against relative rotary displacement about the axis of the screw 41.

Also, it will be seen that the various channels, such as the channels 34, 35, 36 and 31 (Figure 3) of each of the two parts 21 and 29, open along their lengths in the face 32, become, when the parts 21 and 29 are placed faceto face and drawn together, as above-described, registered with each other, respectively, and closed. In one of these closed channels, formed by the registering channels 36, 36 of the two parts, two contact members 4| and 43 with their interposed bare conductors are snugly and, in fact, tightly enclosed and encased and thus dependably isolated from the contact members 42 and 44 with their interposed conductors which in turn are in a similar manner dependably enclosed in the now closed channel made up of the registering channels 31, 31. The lengthwise expanse of the casing parts 26 and 28 is commensurate with the lengths of these now closed channels and thus closure thereof througho ut their lengths is insured as well as uniform distribution of clamping pressure throughout their lengths and the lengths of the contact members. The open ended channels 34 and 34 of the two parts 21 and 29 likewise become registered and form an .open ended and otherwise completely wise closed channel formed enclosed channel for accommodating the cord conductor 2|, the cord 20 being in a similar manner accommodated in the open ended but otherby the channels 35 and 35 in the other end of the device. If desired the tapered end portions 30 and 3| may be proportioned yieldingly to grip the outer coverings or the unbroken insulation of the cord conductors and make a neat mechanical junction therewith.

Also, it will be noted that the parts 21 and 29, particularly where both are made of yieldable or semi-hard rubber, achieve under,` the compression brought about bythe clamping screw 41 and the casing parts 26 and 28, a contraction or deformation of the above-mentioned closed channels, an action that aids not only in insuring good mechanical and electrical contact between the various engaged or contacting parts on each side of the central barrier 38 but also in maintaining such a dependable gripping of these parts that each multiple insulated conductor structure is' dependably anchored mechanically.

The various features of my invention may be carried out in practice in other forms or embodiments and in Figures 10-14 one such other form is shown by way of illustration. Referring first to Figure 10, I have there shown a connecting device particularly adapted to interconnect conductors, the respective runs of which make an angle to one another such as a 90 angle. Such a condition is frequently met with in certain types of electrical appliances, particularly electric lamps with certain types of standards or bases; for example, the construction may have a usually upstanding tubular member 50 through which insulated conductors, frequently in the form of insulated single wire conductor, as at 5I and 52, ex-

tend upwardly into connection with the lamp socket and to which, usually inside or under -a hollowl base, a exible cord conductor 53 is to be connected. In Figure 10 the connecting device for effecting such an interconnection appears in perspective and in Figure 11 it is shown in central vertical section; In the latter figure it will beV seen that the device preferably comprises two half portions C and D.

Half portion C comprises an outer casing part 54 made 'of a rigid material, such as sheet metal,

being shaped as is better shown in Figure 14. It is constructed to be easily stamped, having a flat disk-like portion 55 provided with a central.

hole 56 and with screw threaded holes 51 and,58, preferably alined on a diameter, screw holes being preferably formed like screw hole 46 of Figure 2.

It has a depending peripheral iiange'59 interrupted, however, extended to the right, as at 56B, throughout a peripheral extent equivalent to the gap 60 in the flange 59. In this casing part 54 is received a part 6l preferably made of rubber of the composias at 66, flat portion 55 being.

tion noted above in connection with the parts 21 and 29 of Figure 9, part 6i being preferably cemented to the casing part 54.

Rubber part 6i is shaped as shown in Figures 11 and 12, having a central hole 62 preferably provided with a bushing-like extension 63 (Figure 11) that is received in the hole 56 of the part 54, so that the insulated conductors I, 52 may be brought therethrough, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, and respectively led into the curved or arcuate channels 63 and 54, which throughout their lengths are open in the face oi' the part 6| and shaped substantially as better shown in Figure 12, a bifurcated barrier 65 separating these open channels from each other and from the hole 62 excepting for an interruption in the barrier, as shown, to lead the conductors thereinto. At their right-hand ends the channels 63, 64 merge into a larger channel 66 which is formed in an extension of the part 6|' that underlies the extension 55a of the part 55.

vices 61 and 68, respectively, being shaped as shown in Figure 12 and generally similar to the contact members of the device of Figures 1-9, in that eachhas a base portion, such as portion 61, and upwardly bent end parts, such as 151b and 61, slotted or hook-shaped, as shown, for engagement with the bared conductors. The latter are interengaged therewith, through the slots or hook portions, as clearly appears from Figure 12. Furthermore, the contact devices, again preferably made of a springy metal, are shaped to interlock with the walls of their respective channels so as to preclude lengthwise relative movement therebetween; specically, both channels and sheet metal contact members partake of similar curvatures, asshown, and these curvatures are suicient to achieve this interlocking action. Part 6| also has holes 69 and 10 which register with the threaded holes 51 and 58, respectively, in the part 54.

The half portion D, shown in plan in Figure 13, comprises a casing-like counterpart 12 (Fig ure 14) which is generally similar to the part 54 excepting that it does not have the central hole 56 and excepting that its` two holes 13 .and 14 are countersunk to receive the heads oi' screws, as later described. In the casing part 12 is vreceived a member 15 also preferably made of resilient or semi-hard rubber, being preferably secured thereto as by a cement. Member 15 is shaped and constructed to be substantially similar to the member 6l of Figure 12 excepting that it lacks the central hole 62. It accordingly has curved channels 16 and 11 open in its face and separated by a bifurcated barrier 18, channels 16 and 11 merging at their right-hand ends into a wider channel 19. Channels 16 and 11 have related thereto, in a manner now clear, conductor-engaging contact members 80 and 8l, like those above-described. 'Ihe part 15 has holes 82 and 83 therethrough in registry with the holes 13 and 14 of the casing part 12.

The cord conductor i'63, after having its conwhence screws 86, 81 are used to draw the two casing parts 52 and 12 together, and to compress the members 6I `and 15. the channels in which become closed when the two are brought into face to face engagement. Also, the upwardly bent end portions of the respective conductorengaging contact members contact with each other' and yield under the action of the screws, the contact members virtually flattening out. Thus, contact members 88 and 80 are brought into juxtaposition but with intermediate portions oi' the conductors or wires 52 and 84 interposed therebetween, and in like manner contact members i1 and 8| become juxtaposed but with intermediate -portions of the conductors 5| and 85 interposed therebetween. These respective intermediate portions thus become dependably clamped, the actions that take place being generally similar and analogous to those above described in connection with the construction of Figures 1-9. The flanges of the casing parts 54 and 12 are of such depth that they fall short of engagement with each other even after appropriate compression of the parts 6I and 15 where both of the latter are made of rubber, and thus adequate compression of the rubber may be brought about to achieve fully the actions and advantages which will now be fully clear in view ofwhat is set forth above in connection with the structure of Figures 1 9.

If desired, the opposed extensions 55fi of the parts 54 and 12 may contribute toward the clamping action, where the latter is utilized, of the opposed parts 'l5 and 6i (Figure 11) upon the cord conductor, as by appropriately proportioning the parts. Thus, 'appropriate resiliency or springiness of sheet metal may be employed or these extensions 55l may be bent inwardly toward each other to cause the uninterrupted covering oi' the cord conductor 53 to be dependably gripped.

Thus,`it will be seen that there has been provided in this invention a construction in which a f dependable mechanical and electrical anchorage or connection of conductors is achieved and, moreover, one in which thevarious objects hereinbefore set forth, together with many thoroughly practical advantages, are successfully attained. The construction is of thoroughly dependable action, may be embodied in small, compact form, is of long-lasting action, is unbreakable, and, moreover, is dependably protective of the conductor structure or structures which enter or leave it. It is thus also well adaptedA to meet the varying conditions of hard practical use.

In my co-pending application Serial No. l40,100, filed May 1, 1937, I have disclosed an electrical connecting device having certain subject matter in common with the devices disclosed in my present application; it is in my said co-pending apagainst two members made ofa yieldable insulating material, said members having open channels therein facing toward each other for the reception therein of conductors that areto be connected together, the channels of said two members having seated therein and facing toward each other contact members, and conductors extending into said channels for interconnection, said conductors passing, and being gripped, between said contact members as saidA drawing means draw said two parts together to compress the yieldable material of said two insulating members seated therein and thereby to constrict said channels and to cause-the latter closely to envelope said contact members and interposed conductors.

2. An electrical connection means, comprising, in combination, two clamping parts having respectively seated thereagainst two members made of a resilient insulating material having faces adapted to be brought into contact with each other, said members having a conductor-receivlng channel closed by the assembly of said members in said face to face contact, said channel having therein contact means, a conductor extending into said channel and into engagement with said contact means, and means for holding said contact means and conductor in engagement and against movement relative to said two resilient members,`said holding means comprising means, for drawing said two clamping parts toward each other to compress said two members and thereby to constrict said closed channel into gripping relation to said contact means and conductor and to clamp said conductor against said contact means.

3. A construction as claimed in claim 2 in which said two clamping parts are concave and together approximate a cylindrical cross-section and in which said two members of resilient material are received within the concavities of said two clamping parts, said channel of said two members being open-ended at the respective ends thereof, said conductor extending through one of said open ends into said channel and into engagement with said contact means, and another conductor extending through the other of said open ends into said channel and into engagement with said contact means, whereby, upon compression o said two resilient insulating members, the constriction of said closed channel effects gripping of both of said conductors and said contact means.

4. A construction as claimed in claim 2 inl which said two clamping parts are generally cuplike in shape, at least one of them having an aperture therein, and the member of resilient material seated in the said one clamping part being substantially conformed to the latter and having its channel extended to said aperture, said conductor being brought to said contact means by Way of said aperture and said extended channel.

5. A construction as claimed in claim 2 in which said two clamping parts are generally cuplike in shape, with their peripheries respectively juxtaposed, at least one of said cup-like clamping parts having a peripheral recess or aperture -and the members of resilient material being respectively conformed thereto and seated therein and having the said channel thereof extended to said aperture, said conductor extending to said contact means by way of said aperture and said like in shape, with their peripheries respectively juxtaposed, said two clampingparts having opposed peripheral portions cut away to form an aperture and the said resilient members respectively received in said two parts having their vconductor extending to said contact means by way of said open-ended extended portion of said two resilient members.

8. A construction as claimed in claim 2 in which said two clamping parts have juxtaposed concave end portions at both ends thereof, thereby presenting two end openings, said two members of resilient material being extended at both ends out of and beyond said end openings and said channel therein being open ended in said extended portions of said two members.

9. An electrical connection means comprising,

' in combination', two parts of insulating material shaped to provide, when assembled to each other, two spaced openings for the passage through each of an insulated conductor, the conductors of which are to be electrically connected, an insulated conductor passing through each of said openings and having the conductor thereof bared, thereby presenting inwardly or' said two insulating parts two bared conductor ends, said two parts carrying respectively two contact members, said contact members each having conductor-engaging means for temporarily holding a conductor and each of said means havingengaged therewith one of said bared conductors, said contact members becoming juxtaposed to each other when said two parts with said conductors respectively held thereto by the respective contact members thereof are assembled to each other, said conductor-engaging means of each contact member being yieldable under pressure, and Vmeans for pressing and holding said two insulating parts together with said contact members juxtaposed to each other and to effect yielding of said conductor-engaging means thereof to cause the holding action of the latter to become substantially permanent, and to cause the contact members and said conductors to be 'clamped into electrical interengagement, whereby A the conductors of said two insulated conductors are mechanically and electrically connected.

10. A construction as claimed in claim 9 in4 which at least one of said two contact members is of sheet metal and has its conductor-engaging means formed by a portion of sheet metal bent out of the plane of the remainder thereof, said portion having a recess therein into which the conductor assembled thereto extends, and being bendable in order to yield under the pressure exerted by said two insulating parts, whereby, upon bending of said sheet metal portion, the conductor is snubbed and additionally anchored as said two parts are drawn together.

11. A construction as claimed lin claim 9 in which at least one of said contact members is of sheet metal elongated in the direction of extent of the bared conductor related thereto, and has its conductor-engaging means comprised by a plurality of recesses therein through which the conductor passes and is thereby alternately presented to the two sides of said elongated sheet metal and becomes interleaved therewith and thereby snubbed, as well as clamped against the companion element, under the pressure exerted by said two insulating parts.

l2. A construction as claimed in claim 9 in which at least one of said contact members is of sheet metal elongated in the direction of extent of the bared conductor related thereto, and has its conductor-engaging means comprising two end portions bent out of the plane of the intermediate portion thereof, the conductor related thereto overlying said intermediate portion, said end portions having recesses through which the conductor passes to bring other portions thereof to the other side of said contact member, whereby the conductor is snubbed at said end portions of the contact member and at said intermediate portion is clamped against the other or said two contact members.

13. An electrical connection means, comprising, in combination, two clamping parts having respectively seated therein members made of a resilient insulating material having faces adapted to be brought into contact with each other, said members having a conductor-receiving channel closed by the assembly of said members in said face to face contact excepting at spaced portions of said assembled members whereby said closed channel is open ended for the reception of at least two insulated conductors that are to be electrically connected, an insulated conductor extending into' said closed channel through each open end thereof and'having a portion of the insulation removed at its end so as to bare its conductor, saidchannel having therein conductor-engaging means spaced from said open end for engaging the bared conductors of said insulated conductors, and means for drawing said two clamping parts toward each other to compress said-two members at said spaced portions about and against the insulation of said insulated conductors that extend therebetween, thereby to 'grip bodily said insulated conductors where they enter said channel.

14. An electrical connection means comprising, in combination, two clamping parts of rigid material having respectively assembled thereto two members made of insulating material, the material of at least one of said members being resilient, said two members having faces adapted to be brought into contact with each other when said clamping parts are assembled together and having a conductor-receiving channel closed by the assembly of said members in said face to face contact, said closed channel being open ended at adjacent ends of said two members for the entry and positioning in said channel of the respective ends of insulated conductors, two insulated conductors having their end portions entered into and positioned in said channel and having their conductors bared at the extreme inner ends thereof, conductor-engaging means spaced from said open end for engaging the bared conductors of said conductors, and means for drawing said clamping parts toward each other to compress said member of resilient material against the other and thereby to contract said channel about and against the insulation of said two insulated conductors that are entered into and positioned in said channel, and thereby clamp and hold the insulation of said insulated conductors against movement outwardly of said open ended channel.

l5. An electrical connection means comprising, in combination, two members of insulating material having faces brought into face to face engagement upon assembly of said two members, there being a channel-like recess in the face of at least one of said members, said recess being closed upon assembly of saidtwo members, the structure formed by the assembly of said two members having two spaced open-ended channels connected to said recess, an insulated conductor extending into each of said open-ended channels and having an end portion of its conductor bared and extended into said recess, whereby there are two bared conductors in the latter, one of said two insulating members being made of a resilient material whereby, upon compression thereof, the cross-sectional area of said recess is diminished, conductor-engaging means in said recess yieldable under pressure and having said two bared conductors engaged thereby, and means for holding said two members in assembled relation and with said resilient member under a suicient compression to diminishthe cross-sectional area of said recess sufliciently to exert a continuous pressure upon said conductors and conductor-engaging means whereby said two conductors are electrically and mechanically connected.

16. A construction as claimed in claim 15 in which both of said insulating members are of resilient material and are under compression, said holding means comprising two parts of rigid material each substantially encompassing one oi said resilient insulating members, together with means for holding said two encompassing parts against separation and with said two resilient members under compression.

- 17. An electrical connection means comprising `a two-part device for connecting two wire conductors, said means comprising two members having adjacent faces brought into juxtaposition when said two members are assembled, each of said members carrying and exposed at said face thereof a bendable sheet metal contact plate having at least two parts which extend in different planes and at least one of said parts having a slot therein, a conductor extending along the contact plate of one of said members and in the slot thereof whereby one length of said conductor is exposed on one side of said plate and toward the member carrying the latter and another length is exposed on the other side of said plate and toward the other member, a conductor extending along the contact plate in the other of said two members and in the slot ,thereof whereby one length of said second conductor is exposed on one side of said plate and toward the member carrying the latter and another length is exposed on the other side of said plate, and means for drawing and holding said two members together and with said contact plates thereof juxtaposed to each other and with a force suitable to bend both of said contact plates and clamp the latter with said two conductors interrelated thereto as aforesaid, between said two members.

18. An electrical connection means comprising a two-part device for 'connecting two Wire conductors, said means comprising two members having adjacent faces brought into juxtaposition when said two members are assembled, at least one of said members being made of a resilient insulating material, said members having in said adjacent faces recesses, at least one in each, which are complementary to each other, a connector element in one of said recesses with one oi said conductors extending into the recess and into engagement with said element, whereby, upon said one conductor being engaged by said element, the latter and said conductor and the recessed member carrying said element form one part oi said device, a sheet metal connector element in the other of said recesses and having a bendable portion and being shaped to have a conductor interleaved therewith and to substantially snub said conductor upon bending of said bendable portion, the other of said conductors extending into said last-mentioned recess and interleaved with said sheet metal connector element, whereby said sheet metal connector element and its associated conductor and the member carrying said element form the other part of said device and upon assembly of said two parts to bring said two faces together and said two recesses in substantial juxtaposition, said two connector elements with their respective conductors become juxtaposed to each other and substantially enclosed in a channel formed by said two complementary recesses, and means operating upon said two members for holding said two parts together with said resilient member under compression suiilcient to bend said bendable portion of said sheet metal connector element and to clamp said connector elements and conductors engaged thereby together in said channel, the compression of said resilient member being sumcient toconstrict the cross-sectional area of said channel.i

19. A construction as claimed in claim 18 in which a wall of one of said recesses and the connector element therein have interengaglng portions ior anchoring the connector element against movement along the recess in response to a pull on the conductor engaged thereby to supp-lement the gripping action upon said connector element effected by the constriction of said channel under the compression of said resilient member.

CHARLES W. ABBOTT. 

